Vegetable cleaning and topping device



April 29, 1952 R. R. RICHMOND 2,594,995

VEGETABLE CLEANING AND TOPPING DEVICE original Filed Dec. 11., 1947 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENToR. RU//a fcmo/m/ BY a u... NSN f Nm w\ l ..1 n1.5. h... u ..I.. fu.. 3.. ..........1.f...\,.. .2.... l .a .T .L s :un... ...n-Hf. ...u nh-.. a n

@Sme TORNEX April 29 1952 R. R.- RICHMOND 2,594,995

VEGETABLE CLEANING AND TOPPING DEVICE original Filed Dec. 11, 1947 2sHEETs-sI-IEET 2 NVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 OFFICE VEGETABLE CLEANING AND TOPPING DEVICERalph R. Richmond, Gun Plains Township, Allegan County, Mich.

Original application December 11, 1947, Serial No. 791,089. Divided andthis application July 21, 1949, Serial No. 106,011

(Cl. 14S-83) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vegetable cleaning and toppingdevice.

The subject matter of this application has been divided from mycopending application for Vegetable Harvester, Serial No. 791,089, filedDecember 11, 1947, which became Patent No. 2,588,764 on March 1l, 1952.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a vegetable cleaning and topping device which isreadily detachable from a standard farm tractor so that the tractor maybe used to move the cleaning device through the field or for ordinaryfarm Work.

Second, to provide a novel form of cleaning and topping mechanism forsphere-like vegetables which will rapidly strip tops, loose skin anddirt from the vegetables without injury to the vegetables and convey theclean vegetables to a delivery conveyor or loading point.

Third, to provide a novel form of cutter bar and cutter bar mounting fora vegetable cleaning table which will maintain a sharp cutting edge fora long period of time and which will not damage vegetables passingthereover.

Fourth, to provide a novel arrangement of cutter bars and vegetablefeeding rolls for a vegetable cleaning machine in which the cutter barsare yieldingly mounted between a pair of cleaning rolls to maintain afixed cutting pressure against the rolls while being movable to passhard foreign objects without injury to the cutting members.

Fifth, to provide a novel form of cleaning roll which is operative inconjunction with other rolls and cutter bars to advance vegetables to becleaned along the roll and into cleaning engagement with the cutterbars.

Sixth, to provide a mobile adjustably mounted cleaning table which maybe moved through the fields in various angularly adjusted positions -sothat vegetables delivered to one end of the table will be caused to moveacross the tabl-e in a cleaning operation regardless of varyingconditions and characteristics of the vegetables, such as size, Shapeand degree of dryness, which would tend to vary the rate at which thevegetables would travel over the table.

Other objects relating to details of my invention will appear from thedescription to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in theclaims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a preferred formof my cleaning and topping mechanism.

Fig. 1 is arear quarter perspective view.. of my topping and cleaningmechanism as coupled to j a standard farm tractor and associated with aconveyor for picking the vegetables ol of thel ground and deliveringthem to the cleaning table.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of my topping `r`fand cleaning tableand the conveyor for moving the clean vegetables from the table.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross see- ;tional view through thetable illustrating the mounting of the cutter bars and cleaning rolls.Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view Qtransversely through thecutter bars and cleaning rolls taken along the plane of the line 4-4 in'l' Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings my cleaning and topping mechanismincludes a framework or chassis I having a pair of castor wheels 2 forsupj porting the rear end thereof. The forward end of i the frame isadapted to be coupled by any convvenierit means to the rear of astandard farm tractor indicated by the dotted lines 3. Preferably thetractor also carries vegetable pickup mechanism and a conveyor 4 forautomatically delivering vegetables from the ground to the cleaningmechanism. The frame I includes horizontal side pieces which support aworking platform 5 and a raised storage platform 6 for carrying bags orbaskets of the cleaned vegetables.

My cleaning and topping table generally indicated at I is supportedforwardly of the working platform and underneath the delivery end of thepickup conveyor 4. An auxiliary gasoline engine for driving themechanism of the cleaning table is mounted on the forward end of thecleaning mechanism as indicated by the dotted lines 8.

The cleaning table I consists of a generally rectangular framework 9pivotally supported from j the chassis frame I at its right side by thedepending legs I0.

The legs Il at the left side of the cleaning table are provided withadjustable screw supports I2 so that the frame 9 and table can beleveled or inclined with respect to the chassis frame. Adjustment of theangle of the table is necessary because some vegetables, pari5V ferentspeeds depending upon whether they are ticularly onions, travel acrossthe table at difrelatively wet or dry.

securedv to the outere'ndsof the shafts. The lef-t ends of the cleaningrolls I1 are provided with pressed in bushings I9 rotatably received onthe stud bearings secured to the left side plate 2 I. The severalsprockets I8 are driven in the same direction by a chain 22 and thechain is in turn driven from a sprocket 23 on the cross shaft 24 at thefront of the table. The cross shaft 24 is driven by the belt 25 from themotor 8 as is best illustrated in Fig. 2. Supports for the motor areindicated at 26 in Fig. 2. 4

The chain 22 and sprockets I3 are enclosed by a guard housing 21 whichalso serves to support a block 28 for holding the chain in engagementwith the sprockets. The guard housing 21 is removably secured to anangle iron 29 welded to the outside of the right side plate I3.

Positioned between the cleaning rolls I1 are a series of cutter bars 3i!which are supported at their ends by the bearings 3|. rlhe bearings atthe left ends of the cutter bars 33 are supported upon pins or bolts 32(see Fig. 3) extending downwardly through an angle iron 33 and thebosses 34 secured to the left side plate 2I. Nuts 35 threaded on thelower ends of the bolts 32 serve to adjust the compression of coilsprings 35 which urge the bearings and therefore the left ends of thecutter bars downwardly into cutting engagement between two adjacentcleaning rolls.

The bearings 3I at the right ends of the cutter bars are provided withyokes 31 pivotally connected to the tongues on the lower ends of guidepins 38. The guide pins extend upwardly through holes in the horizontalflange of the angle iron 29. Springs 3G compressed between the underside of the angle iron and the tongues serve to urge the right bearingsand right Vends of the cutter bearings downwardly.

Each of the cleaning rolls I1, which are of hollow tubular construction,are provided with a pair of spiral ribs 4Q which are welded or otherwisesuitably secured to the surface of the roll. lThe ribs 48 are ofgenerally rectangular cross section and have their leading edges 4Iground off sharply to form a cutting edge cooperative -with the cutterbars 39 as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. I prefer to make thecutter bars of tubular stock having a multisided cross section. Thus thebars are substantially cylindrical but present a series of new cuttingedges to the ribs 4B as the cutter bars revolve. As is most clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2 I prefer to position the several cleaning rolls inangularly displaced relationship so that the ribs of one roll aredisplaced 90 from the ribs on the next adjacent rolls.

In order to prevent unnecessary bruising and cutting of the vegetablesas they are passed over the table I cover the body of the cleaning rollsI1 with a layer 42 of relatively soft rubber-like material such asasphaltum. I taper the thickness of the covering layer from a thin layeradjacent to the trailing edges of the ribs 40 to approximately the fullthickness of the ribs along the leading edges of the ribs as isindicated at 43. Then as the cutting edge 4I approaches the cutter bar30 the vegetables will be lifted out of the notch or groove formedbetween the oar and roll so as not to bruise or out the surface of thevegetable. Any tops or loose skin on the vegetable will work their waybetween the cleaning roll and cutter hars and will be eiectively shearedoi leaving the vegetables cleaned and topped and in a condition highlyacceptable to the commercial market.

The left end of the frame of the cleaning table is providedvwithlalongitudinally disposed delivery conveyor 44 which* catches thevegetables discharged from the table and delivers them to a loadingchute 45. The conveyor 44 .is driven from a pulley 46 by the belt 41.The belt 41 is in turn driven from a pulley 48 on the left end of thecross shaft 24 so that the delivery conveyor is driven in timedrelationship to the cleaning rolls I1. An operator standing on the workplatform 5 can supervise the operation of the table and position cratesor bags underneath the chute 45. outwardly sloping hopper-like walls 49are provided around three sides of the cleaning table to retain thevegetables thereon.

In operation the spiral ribs on the cleaning roll's function to advancevegetables from the right side of the table to the delivery conveyor 44while at the same time repeatedly bringing each vegetable into cleaningengagement between the ribs and the cutter bars 3G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. Topping mechanism ier a tractor drawn vegetable harvesting devicecomprising, a framework connectable to the rear of the tractor andhaving castor wheels for supporting the rear of said framework, a tableframe adjustably mounted on said framework, side plates on said tableframe defining a plurality of pairs of apertures, stud bearings securedto one of said plates by bolts passed thrc-ugh the apertures in said oneside plate, a plurality of parallel cleaning rolls having one endsupported on said stud bearings and with shafts extending through thelapertures in the other of said side plates, selfaligning bearingssecured to said other side plate and supporting said shafts, sprocketson said shafts, a chainfor driving said sprockets in the same direction,a gasoline motor on said framework for driving said chain, cutter barsof multisided cross section positioned between adjacent cleaning rolls,spring mounted bearings for supporting said bars, the springs for saidbearings being arranged to urge said bars into engagement with saidrolls, spirally arranged ribs on said cleaning rolls, a covering of softmaterial on said rolls and tapering in thickness to a thickest portionat the leading edges of said ribs, a delivery conveyor delivering fromthe ends of said rolls and means for driving said delivery conveyor fromthe same motor for operating said rolls.

2. Topping mechanism for a tractor drawn vegetable harvesting devicecomprising, a framework connectable to the rear of the tractor, a tableframe adjustably mounted on said framework, side plates on said tableframe, one of said plates defining a plurality or" apertures. studbearings secured to the other one of said side plates, a plurality ofparallel cleaning rolls having one end supported on said bearings andwith shafts extending through the apertures in said one of side plates,self-aligning bearings secured to said one side plate and supportingsaid shafts, means for driving' said shafts in the same direction,spirally wound rib on each of said rolls, cutter bars of multisidedcross section positioned between adjacent cleaning rolls and havingbearings at their ends, spring mounts for supporting the bearings ofsaid bars, the springs of said mounts being arranged to urge said barsdownwardly into engagement with the ribs on adjacent rolls, and adelivery conveyor delivering from the ends of said rolls.

3. In a vegetable vcleaning machine the comy bination of a supportingframe, a plurality of elongated cylindrical parallel cleaning rollsprovided with spirally disposed blades projecting from the surfacesthereof, the pitch of the blades being such that there is a substantialspace between corresponding reaches thereof, said rolls being providedwith non-metallic facings between the blades, the facings being ofincreased thickness adjacent the forwardly facing sides of the blades toconstitute facings for the forward sides thereof, said rolls beingdriven in the same direction, freely rotatable cutter bars oatinglymounted at one end and disposed in the notches between said rolls andengaging said blades to coact with the rolls to provide trough-like Workreceiving recesses between the reaches of the blades, said bars beingof' such diameter as not to project substantially above the tops of saidblades, and means for feeding work upon said rolls at one end thereof,the frame being adjustable to incline said rolls longitudinally.

4. In a vegetable cleaning machine the combination of a supportingframe, a plurality of elongated cylindrical parallel cleaning rollsprovided with spirally disposed blades projecting from the surfacesthereof, the pitch of the blades being such that there is a substantialspace between corresponding reaches thereof, said rolls being providedwith non-metallic facings between the blades, the facings being ofincreased thickness adjacent the forwardly facing sides of the blades toconstitute facings for the forward sides thereof, power means forrotating said rolls, and freely rotatable cutter bars floatingly mountedat one end and disposed in the notches between said rolls and engagingsaid blades to coact with the rolls to provide trough-like workreceiving recesses between the reaches of the blades.

5. In a vegetable cleaning machine the combination of a supportingframe, a plurality of elongated cylindrical parallel cleaning rollsprovided with spirally disposed blades projecting from the surfacesthereof, the pitch of the blades being such that there is a substantialspace between corresponding reaches thereof, said rolls being providedwith nonmetallic facings between the blades, the facings being ofincreased thickness adjacent the forwardly facing sides of the blades toconstitute facings for the forward sides thereof, power means forrotating said rolls, and rotatable cutter bars floatingly mounted at oneend and disposed in the notches between said rolls and engaging saidblades to coact with the rolls to provide trough-like work receivingrecesses between the reaches of the blades, said cutter bars beingapproximately cylindrical but having polygonal surfaces.

6. In a vegetable cleaning machine the combination of a supportingframe, a plurality of elongated parallel cleaning rolls provided withspirally disposed blades, the pitch of the blades being such that thereis a substantial space between corresponding reaches thereof, powermeans for rotating said rolls, rotatable cutter bars disposed in thenotches between said rolls and engaging said blades to coact with saidrolls to support the work, and means for feeding work upon said rolls atone end thereof, said bars being of such diameter as not to projectsubstantially above the tops of said blades.

7. In a vegetable cleaning machine the combination of a supportingframe, a plurality of elongated parallel cleaning rolls provided withspirally disposed blades, the pitch of the blades being such that thereis a substantial space between corresponding reaches thereof, powermeans for rotating said rolls, and freely rotatable cutter bars disposedin the notches between said rolls and engaging said blades to coact withrolls to support the Work and have cutting engagement with said blades,said cutter bars having polygonal surfaces, said bars being of suchdiameter as not to project substantially above the tops of said blades.

8. A cleaning roll for a vegetable cleaning table comprising, a tubularroll element having a bearing at one end thereof and a supporting shaftat tHe other end thereof, a driving sprocket secured to said shaft, apair of rectangular ribs spirally secured to the outside of said tubularelement, and a covering of soft asphaltum material on said tubularelement, said covering tapering from a thin portion along thetrailingedges of said ribs to a thick portion forming a substantially completefacing for the leading edges of said ribs.

RALPH R. RICHMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number' Name y Date 307,339 Schindel Oct. 28, 1884381,748 Armsted Apr. 24, 1888 1,026,776 Shirley May 21, 1912 1,071,925Keith Sept. 2, 1913 1,423,790 Flis July 25, 1922 1,535,500 Skarphol Apr.28, 1925 1,539,874 Scholl et al June 2, 1925 1,659,555 Ayars Feb. 2l,1928 1,765,902 Brochet June 24, 1930 2,414,922 Barrett et al Jan. 28,1947 2,464,438 Davies Mar. 15, 1949 2,527,182 Gaddie Oct.-.24, 1950OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, July 1942, page 137, Scientic Lib.

